Five Delhi Police commandos stationed at Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place have been suspended for leaving the place before their duty hours ended, police said.

The commandos had been stationed at the underground market, popular with foreign tourists, for over two years.

Sources said the commandos, armed with AK-47s, were deployed at the market as part of the area security plan of the Delhi Police.

For some time now, shopkeepers at Palika Bazaar had been complaining that the commandos were leaving the place at least an hour before their duty hours ended. The commandos were reportedly providing security at five entry and exit points to the underground market between 11 am and 8 pm.

On Saturday, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Connaught Place, on an inspection round, noticed that not one, but all the five commandos had left the premises with at least an hour of duty still left. A report was submitted to the district DCP and other senior officers at the Police Headquarters.

Police said action was taken immediately and the commandos suspended. Sources said the commandos admitted that they had violated duty rules. They were suspended with a warning that in future, if they did it again, strict action would be taken.

“The commandos had been stationed to deal with any kind of contingency. They are deputed as a deterrent and are the first responders to any unfolding emergency. They are specially trained in counter-terror measures. They should have been more responsible,” a senior police officer said.

DCP (New Delhi) SBS Tyagi said, “The SHO noticed that the commandos had left much before their duty hours were to end and, therefore, they were suspended.”